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The design of cities and buildings affects the quality of our lives. Making the built environment useful, safe, comfortable, efficient, and as beautiful as possible is a universal quest. We dream about how we might live, work, and play. From these dreams come some 95 percent of all private and public buildings; professional architects design only about 5 percent of the built environment. While much of what non-architects build is beautiful and useful, the ugliness and inconveniences that blight many urban areas demonstrate that an understanding of good architectural design is vital for creating livable buildings and public spaces. To help promote this understanding among non-architects, as well as among those considering architecture as a profession, award-winning architect and professor Hal Box explains the process of making architecture from concept to completed building, using real-life examples to illustrate the principles involved in designing buildings that enhance the quality of life for those who live with them.

To cause what we build to become architecture, we have three choices: hire an architect, become an architect, or learn to think like an architect. Box believes that everyone should be involved in making architecture and has organized this book as a series of letters to friends and students about the process of creating architecture. He describes what architecture should be and do; how to look at and appreciate good buildings; and how to understand the design process, work with an architect, or become an architect. He also provides an overview of architectural history, with lists of books to read and buildings to see. For those involved in building projects, Box offers practical guidance about what goes into constructing a building, from the first view of the site to the finished building. For students thinking of becoming architects, he describes an architect's typical training and career path. And for the wide public audience interested in architecture and the built environment, Box addresses how architecture relates to the city, where the art of architecture is headed, and why good architecture matters.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

HAL BOX, FAIA, Professor Emeritus and former Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin, writes from fifty years’ experience in teaching and practicing architecture. His work includes schools, churches, office and commercial buildings, dormitories, and residences, as well as urban design projects. His sixteen years as Dean of the UT School of Architecture (1976–1992) led the school to become one of the top ten architecture schools in the United States. He and his wife life in Austin, Texas, and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Top customer reviews

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I am not an architect; merely someone who appreciates the end results of good architecture. I do not routinely read books about architecture, or books written by architects. But as a long-time admirer of Hal Box's architectural work, I was curious how a book titled Think Like an Architect might read.

Short answer? Terrifically! I learned something interesting about the history, art and science of architecture in every chapter.

As I finished the book, which I accomplished faster than I would have liked or imagined, it occurred to me that Hal Box accomplished with this book what Vitruvius, the first century BC Roman architect, espoused as the goals of good architecture: commodity, firmness, and delight. The book accomplished its program of encouraging me to think more like an architect (commodity); the ideas and illustrations are thoughtfully and artfully presented in a sturdy format which will withstand years of referencing and re-reading (firmness); and Professor Box puts forth his ideas and opinions, earned over a long and distinguished career as an educator and practicing architect, clearly and entertainingly (delight).

Whether one plans to build or is simply curious about how to do it right, Think Like an Architect is a must.

A good book to get information about architect as a career, preparation, education, challenges.

This is also a good book for ordinary people who have an interest in better architecture for their home and city.

Somehow architects have some in common with inventors. They are generalists, working with other specialists. They may work long hours continuously, say 48 hours. Inventors sometimes may stay awake even longer.

This excellent book has Insightful and clearly understandable lessons on architecture using everyday, as well as historical examples. Although written with the layperson in mind, the architecture student and professional would be well advised to study the author's perspective and experience.

This title is useful in that it explains design concepts in lay person's terms w/o fussiness. Written by an architect, who has hands on experience building houses, I appreciated that much of what was said about the art of creating beautiful spaces is applicable to landscape design which is my area of interest.

Loved the thought process and candor of the author, who was very talented and honest with his readers. Everyone involved in living should read this work. Enlightening , thought provoking, and challenging to all who want a better sense of place!

Very pleasant to read and full of precious information on how good architecture is developed. Excellent book if you are not an architect and want to understand why people feel comfortable in some spaces and in others not.